Daily Telegraph: A year after surviving an earthquake that destroyed his town, 10-year-old Hossein still cannot sleep indoors. “We’ve tried to persuade him to sleep inside,” said Maryam Ghasemi, who heads the Mahshiz Institution for Boys, located on an arid tract of land a mile south of Bam. “But every time we persuade him to spend the night indoors, we get a tremor that triggers the miserable memories of last year.” Memories that haunt orphans of Iran quake a year on
Daily Telegraph: A year after surviving an earthquake that destroyed his town, 10-year-old Hossein still cannot sleep indoors. “We’ve tried to persuade him to sleep inside,” said Maryam Ghasemi, who heads the Mahshiz Institution for Boys, located on an arid tract of land a mile south of Bam. “But every time we persuade him to spend the night indoors, we get a tremor that triggers the miserable memories of last year.” ‘Nuclear push key to Iran’s ambition’
The Australian: Iran’s historic ambitions to be the dominant regional power mean it will not be dissuaded from its long-term goal of nuclear weapons, creating the prospect of an eventual showdown with the US and its allies. That is the view of US Deputy Secretary of State Richard Armitage, who also says the Iranian ambition to be the world centre for Shia Muslims is driving its “dangerous game” in neighbouring Iraq.
Runaway teenage girl sold to man twice her age serves prison time
Iran Focus: Tehran, Dec. 23 – A 15-year-old girl who ran away from home because of being forcefully married to a man twice her age was arrested and is currently in a juvenile correctional facility in Tehran. The girl, who is of Afghan origin, ran away from home after she was sold by her father to another 30-year-old Afghan man for 50 million rials (the equivalent of $5,000). Runaway teenage girl sold to man twice her age serves prison time
Iran Focus: Tehran, Dec. 23 – A 15-year-old girl who ran away from home because of being forcefully married to a man twice her age was arrested and is currently in a juvenile correctional facility in Tehran. The girl, who is of Afghan origin, ran away from home after she was sold by her father to another 30-year-old Afghan man for 50 million rials (the equivalent of $5,000). British PM vows to be watchful of Iran
Reuters: British Prime Minister Tony Blair says Europe was “not naive” about Iran’s nuclear plans and would ensure Tehran fulfils an obligation to freeze work that could lead to making nuclear weapons. Blair spoke on Israeli television yesterday after a daylong visit to Israel and the Palestinian territories to help revive peace efforts after Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat’s death Nov. 11.Malteser help traumatised children
Malteser Germany: People in Bam are still suffering from the aftermath of the disastrous earthquake that struck the town one year ago. Peter Staudacher, Malteser programme coordinator in Bam states that children in particular remain traumatised. Many lost either one or both parents over night and, in addition, had to realise that their playmates and friends and are no longer alive. Dam is threat to Iran’s heritage
The Guardian: More than 100 of Iran’s potentially most important but least examined archaeological sites, including fringes of Pasargadae, the city built by King Cyrus the Great, will be flooded in the next two years according to the UN, which appealed yesterday to international scientists to try to record what they can. Tehran confirms woman’s death sentence
The Guardian: Iran yesterday confirmed that a court has sentenced a 21-year-old woman to death for prostitution, but denied reports that she had a mental age of eight. Leyla Mafi was sentenced to death more than a year ago for having illegal sex. The sentence is being reviewed by the supreme court. Hanging is the usual form of execution in Iran. Slow rebuilding of earthquake hit Iranian city brings complaints, treasure
AFP: Reconstruction of Bam a year after the Iranian city was hit by a devastating earthquake is progressing slowly, with the historic citadel looking like it’s been hit by heavy artillery and thousands of people still living in makeshift housing. Iran: Woman sentenced to be buried up to chest and stoned to death
Amnesty International: An Iranian woman facing execution by stoning for adultery is believed to still be alive, even though the sentence was reportedly due to have been carried out on Tuesday 21 December. Hajieh Esmailvands death sentence was upheld by the Supreme Court last month. Her unnamed co-defendant is at risk of imminent execution by hanging. 